Work decorating method and implement



April 19, 1938. E. w. HAMANT WORK DECORATING METHOD AND IMPLEMENT Filed July s, 1956 Y Q y M/ x ML mw H6 L INVENTOR.

EDWARD WHAMANT BY ffiue ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 woax' nacoaarma METHOD AND IMPLEMENT Edward William Hamant, Dayton, Ohio, assigpor to Oxford Varnish Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July a, 1936, Serial a 13 Claims, (of. 101-35) The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved work-decorating member of the type adapted to be pressed into contact with a pattern surface, bearing an image in suitable medium, such as ink or paste, and then to transfer the medium delineating such image to an ob.- iect to be decorated. One problem in connection with apparatus of-such type arises by reason of the fact that the pattern-carrying member (usually an etched or otherwise suitably engraved surface on which the decorating medium is distributed to form the pattern) may only be made economically either as a flat or regularly curved plate, althou h the work to be decorated may l 7 vary infinitely in surface shape.

A specific object is to provide a work-decorating transfer member which will be positiveln its action in applying the'decorative imprint to .the work, notwithstanding that the shape of the work may vary within reasonable limits, and which will cooperate effectively with a fiat or cylindrical pattern surface inrremoving the decorating'medium therefrom in the transfer proc- L ess.

A further objecfis to provide an improved work-decorating method. 4

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description, relating to the accompanying drawing, showing anillustrative form of apparatus for utilizing it. In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows, partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal central section, a transfer roll embodying the invention, as being applied to an article to be decorated; 5 Fig. 2 shows one end of the roll of Fig. 1, being applied to a flat pattern, such as an etched plate; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, through the entire roll, taken as indicated by the line 3-3 on 4 Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the application of the roll to a surface to be decoratedg and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view, showing features of the construction of the roll.

Referring in detail to the drawin supporting shaft is shown at l, on which the transfer roll, indicated generally at 2, is mounted. The shaft has its ends projecting from the roll and these ends may be supported directly by hand or in suitable sleeves rotatably engaging the ends, or the ends of the shaft may be supportedin appropriate hearings, in a work-decorating machine of any known or suitable type, provided with a rotary pattern member a work support, and suithand.

The roll hasa core comprising relatively stacked circular discs, there being comparatively thindiscs, as indicated at 4, near the end portions of the roll, and a substantially thicker disc 5- at the longitudinal center of the roll. These disc's 4 and 5 5 have-central openings, which are normally in alignment as shown'in Fig. 2, but which are larger than-the effective shaft, so that ailthe sections may shift relative to the shaft as well as to each other, into and out of cylindrical arrangement. The effective shaft surfaces adjacent the sections comprise, as shown, rings '6, all of which are secured rigidly to the shaft per se as by crosspins,it being understood, however, that the ring effects shown may be formed directly on the 15 shaft stock. Therings 6 are spaced from each (other, and each is located centrally with respect to the discs surrounded thereby, so that the rings may be made on various diameters and eachcontrol the extent of lateral movement of but one 20 of the-discs, without interfering with the other discs. The diameters of the rings, in the embodiment shown, increase toward both ends of the roll.

1 The discs 4 and 5 are held in assembled rela- 6 tionship by end plates 8, shown as pinned to the shaft. One or both of these end plates may be adjustable, and secured to the shaft as'by means of a jam-nut, (not shown), whereby the'efiective pressure between the discs may be controlled and set. In case the mills to be driven by means of the shaft, as in a graining machine, any suitable key arrangement may be used between the shaft and one or more of the discs. Suchpositive driving connection is omitted from the il1ustra-' tion because when the roll is used by harid, no

' nally of the roll. The laterally shiftable sections are maintained normally in cylindrically aligned 50 relationship, partly by-means of the elastic nature of the transfer material, which, as usually 1 made comprises glue and glycerin compound, but which may comprise any other suitabletransfer material. I

Assisting in the action of the transfer material in normally maintaining the sections in cylindrical alignment, there is shown a prestretched sheet of live, elastic rubber l2, which bridges and substantially envelopes all the sections at one end of the roll and which may bridge and envelope all the sections of the roll if desired. Preferably this sheet of live rubber is individually attached-to the peripheral surfaces of the respective discs and the attachment may comprise binding cords l4, sections, of cord being wound about the assembled core and enveloping sheets I2, the ends being fastened to respective discs, as by means of nails or suitable fasteners l5, see Fig. 3.

The enveloping tube 10 of transfer material is usually molded under pressure about the core after the latter is formed and assembled as above described. The layers of cord l4 assist in forming a secure bond between the rubber and the transfer composition. It will be seen that relatively free stretches of'rubber bridge across from the peripheral surface of one disc to that of another and when, due to any agency, the discs are relativelyoffset, as shown in Fig. 5, said free stretch of the rubber sheet tends strongly to realign the sections in cooperation with the transfer material which is also ordinarily both yielding and elastic.

. In the operation of the roll in carrying out the method, the yieldably aligned sections, as shown in Fig. 2, tend to maintain the transfer material in cylindrical form while the outer surface of the transfer blanket is rolled into contact with, for example, an etched surface of a metal plate,-such as indicated, at P, in Fig. 2. This may be planar or cylindrically curved, and, in either case it will be seen that the roll operates on the plate at best advantage with the sections 4 and 5 aligned. After the ink pattern has been picked up by the transfer surface the latter is then rolled onto the work surface to be decorated, such being indicated at S on the work blank W, in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Assuming that the surface of the work is transversely curved, and, bi-symmetrical as shown, it will be seen that, as pressure is applied to the roll, the central section 5 moves laterally of the shaft the greatest distance, and that the The rings cooperate in maintaining the desired relationship between the sections, and it is to be understood that the driving shaft and ring arrangement may readily be made demountable from the roll, so that the shaft shown may be replaced by another shaft having ring'diameters to suit various shapes of work other' than that shown. Thus positive abutment may be main- 'tained between the effective shaft and the shifttive means lateral movement, out of cylindrical alignment, between the sections 4--5 of the roll. During shipment of transfer rolls, the usual method is to support the rolls on stanchions or blocks which engage the projecting ends of the shafts, thereby preventing contact of the transfer material II] with any supporting surface.

When the present roll is so supported, the weight of the central sections 4 or 5 of the roll will have a tendency to pull the roll out of cylindrical distance, the transfer material may be permanently distorted thereby. To prevent this (inter alia) a series of normally aligned openings 20 are provided in the sections, and after the roll is formed and assembled, as above described, suitable rods 2| are thrust through the openings, holding the sections substantially in cylindrical alignment. As shown, these rods have at least one pointed end 22 to assist in inserting them, and the rods, adjacent the pointed ends, are threaded to engage securing nuts 23. The opposite ends of the rods may be similarly made or have rigid heads. Where the only problem is maintaining the roll in cylindrical shape during shipment, a dummy shaft may be used,-fitting the enlarged central openings in all the sections, and the operating shaft (shown and described) is, in such case, shipped separately from the roll.

I claim:

1. In a transfer roll having a core formed of core sections in a manner normally to hold the sections in prearranged relationship.

2. A transfer roll having a core formed of relatively laterally shiftable discs of substantially rial outwardly overlying the core, and an elastic membrane interposed between the core sections and the transfer material.

5. A transfer roll having a core formed of relatively laterally shiftable sections of substantially non-yielding material, yieldable transfer material outwardly overlying the core, and a prestretched elastic membrane bridging adjacent core sections and interposed between the peripheral surfaces of the sections and the transfer material.

6. A normally cylindrical transfer roll, comprising a core formed of a plurality of circular discs of substantially non-yielding material mounted upon a shaft, the discs being shiftable relative to each other and to the shaft transversely thereof, an elastic sheet bridging adjacent discs and tending to maintain them in iongitudinal-cylindrical alignment, and an outer layer of material which is adapted to effect a decorative transfer, surrounding said elastic sheet.

7. A normally cylindrical transfer roll, com prising a core formed of a plurality of discs of substantially non-yielding material mounted upon a shaft, the discs being adapted to be shifted relative to each other and to the shaft, an elastic cover surrounding the discs and tending to maintain them in longitudinal cylindrical alignment, and a coating of impression-receiving material surrounding said elastic material.

8. A normally cylindrical transfer roll, comprising a core formed of a plurality of circular discs .01 substantially non-yielding material mounted in such manner that the discs are shiftable relative to each ,0 her "in their own shape, and if the roll is shipped for a considerable planes, an elastic sheet brid ing adjacent discs and tending to maintain them in longitudinal cylindrical alignment, an outer layer, of material which is adapted to effect a decorative transfer, surrounding said elastic sheet, and means securing the elastic sheet to the peripheral surfaces of the discs individually.

9. A transfer roll comprising a shaft and substantially rigid discs in side-by-side relation, each shiftable in its own plane relative to adjacent discs, the discs being assembled on the shaft and having openings loosely embracing it, a cylinder of transfer material enveloping the discs and distortable out of cylindrical shape by relative movement of the discs, and pressure means on the shaft limiting the shifting movement of the discs to control the effective'transfer surface of the roll at one side of the axis thereof.

10. In the method of decorating work by transferring an image in suitable color from a pattern to the work, the procedure comprisingapplying a sheet of yielding transfer material to the pattern, meanwhile yieldingly and continuously supporting the sheet opposite the pattern-surfacecontacting area, and then applying the sheet to the work while non-yieldingly and continuously supporting the sheet opposite the work contacting area thereof.

11. A ansfer roll, having a core, formed of relatively laterally shiftable sections of substantially non-yielding material and yieldable transfer material lying outwardly from the core, means associated with the core and acting positively thereon to prevent the sections from moving out of cylindrical alignment.

12. In a transfer roll, having a core formed of relatively laterally shiftable sections of substantially non-yielding material and an envelope of yieldable transfer material surrounding the core sections, a series of normally aligned openings in the sections outwardly from the center thereof, and securing bolts adapted to be passed through said openings to prevent sag ing of the roll in shipment.

13. In the method of decorating non-planar work by the use of a sheet of transfer material, the procedure of applying the transfer material to the'pattern in a cylindrical form, and then distorting the cylindrically shaped transfer material sumciently to make it conform to the work at all areas thereof contacted by the transfer material by applying, internally of the cylinder and opposite, the working area of the transfer material and intermediate the cylindrical axis and the transfer material per se, a positive equalized pressure to thereby cause said distortion.

EDWARD WILLIAM HAMANT. 

